Championship Links: Scoring & Results (Girls State Junior) | Scoring & Results (Women’s State Mid-Amateur) | Photo Gallery | Championship Website (Girls State Junior)|Championship Website (Women’s State Mid-Am)
Heading into the final round of the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship one-shot ahead, Merritt Daniel of Trussville posted an overall score of four-under 212 to claim the 63rd Alabama Girls State Junior Championship title.
Brooklyn Sutter of Cullman finished second with an overall score of 213 (73, 70, 70), and Courtney Grace of Birmingham finished third, posting an overall score of 214 (72, 71, 71).
In a scorecard playoff, Julie Waldo of Prattville shot a 216 (74, 74, 68) overall to take home fourth place while Anna Christian Beeker of Tuscaloosa posted a 216 (74, 71, 71) to finish fifth.
Daniel’s win earns her an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Girls Junior Championship held at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, North Carolina, July 13-18, 2026.
Through her win, sh e also receives an exemption into Alabama Girls State Junior for the remainder of her eligibility, a five-year (2026-2030) exemption into the Alabama Women’s Match Play Championship, a five-year (2026-2030) exemption into the Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship, as well as her spot on team Alabama’s 2026 Southern Junior Cup team.
After leading rounds one and two, Ashley-Sinclair Curtis of Enterprise claimed victory at the 3rd Alabama Women’s State Mid-Amateur Championship. Curtis fired a three day total of ten-over 226 (75, 73, 78). Curtis claimed victory at the 2nd Alabama Women’s State Mid-Amateur Championship last year.
Linda Jeffery of Prattville finished second with an overall score of 233 (81, 75, 77) and Theresa Mahlik of Madison posted an overall score of 234 (84, 76, 74) to finish third.
Curtis receives a five-year (2027-2031) exemption into the Alabama Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, a five-year (2026-2030) exemption into the Alabama Women’s Match Play Championship, and a five-year (2026-2030) exemption into the Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship.
These tournaments are conducted by the Alabama Golf Association.
About the Alabama Golf Association (AGA)
The Alabama Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1915 whose mission is to serve and promote amateur golf in Alabama. AGA membership consists of 125 member clubs represented by over 33,500 individuals. The activities and services of the Alabama Golf Association are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of Alabama golfers who wish to serve the game and the association through service. A full-time professional staff of seven individuals handles day-to-day activities.
Based in Hoover, the AGA is the USGA's Allied Golf Association in Alabama conducting national championship qualifying, administering the World Handicap System including the GHIN Handicap service, course & slope rating, and Rules of Golf & Handicapping education. The AGA annually conducts 24 championships; and team match competitions for men, women, junior
and seniors. The AGA manages the Junior Golf Alabama program that is a joint venture between the AGA and Alabama-NW Florida PGA Section.
In addition to competitions, the AGA administers the AGA Scholarship Fund through the Alabama Golf Foundation that is dedicated to assisting young golfers in higher education. Additionally, the Alabama Golf Foundation supports the Youth on Course Alabama program providing facility access to junior golfers and provides funding for the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation. In 2016, the AGA earned the Gold Tee Award for “Outstanding Tournament Operations – Small Association” by the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA).
Since 1980, the AGA has managed the affairs of the Southern Golf Association which includes conducting the historic Southern Amateur Championship and Southern Junior Championship, in conjunction with the Board of Directors of the Southern Golf Association.
For more information about the Alabama Golf Association, visit www.alabamagolf.org.
Media Contact:
Alison Williams
Manager of Media, Marketing & Communications
Alabama Golf Association
205-979-1234
alison@alabamagolf.org
